PARIS: Tomlinson an icon no matter the uniform

SAN DIEG0 ---- He took the hits, took the grief, and took the
Chargers on his back in making them relevant again.

And now that LaDainian Tomlinson plays for the Jets, none of
that matters?

Not in this space.

If you want to crush one of the grandest Chargers ever, have at
it. If you want to mock a former record-setting NFL MVP ---- like
Chargers general manager A. J. Smith did ---- the floor is yours.
If you want to discount a rare superstar spending the majority of
his career in San Diego, you go.

But not me.

With the Chargers playing the Jets on Sunday, the iconic
Tomlinson faces his ex-team for the first time. But in facing the
music of how the Chargers often treat their most celebrated
players, his departure after 11 seasons was a familiar song and
dance.

Tomlinson wasn't the first star unceremoniously dumped, just the
latest. For an organization that preaches loyalty, why are the
likes of Junior Seau, Rodney Harrison and Drew Brees booted to the
curb like yesterday's trash?

Tomlinson was no different, or didn't you know that zero
significant Chargers executives attended his emotional going-away
press conference?

As separations go, this was "War of the Roses" with helmets.

"Yeah, I know some of the details ---- but listen, he's going to
go down as one of the greatest players to ever put a Chargers
uniform on ---- so his legacy there is cemented firmly,'' Brees
said from New Orleans. "But I know that there's a fire that burns
(in him) ---- he can still play at a high level and he's still a
competitor, and I know he wants to win that game, that's for
sure.''

Tomlinson spoke with San Diego's media Thursday, and the path he
took was the one he's traveled. Before the interview, Brees
predicted Tomlinson's demeanor.

"I'm sure he'll take the high road ---- but it's hard for any
competitive person not to feel a little bit like ... you always
feel like you have something to prove, but, especially when you
play your old team, whatever the reason for your departure,'' he
said.

Remember when Tomlinson and Brees arrived in 2001, the Chargers
one season removed from 1-15? These two standouts from Texas landed
in a mess, but promised to flip it and win a title.

Brees eventually got his in New Orleans, with Tomlinson still on
the prowl.

Tomlinson said that's what bums him most about his San Diego
stint ---- no Super Bowl confetti shower.

"I think the opportunity we had to win a championship and didn't
win it,'' Tomlinson said. "That is the one thing you set out to do
every year to win a championship, and that definitely stands out in
my mind, not winning.''

Tomlinson, who starts Sunday for the first time this season,
thought his career might start and finish here. But when coach
Marty Schottenheimer was fired after the 2006 season, replaced by
Norv Turner with a mandate to transform the Chargers into a passing
team, the X's and O's were on the wall.